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London! And a member of government asks us, what can we do about Scientology?

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Not everyone gets so close up to Big Ben you get this perspective.

But we had a special tour of the United Kingdom’s Houses of Parliament yesterday, thanks to a member of the government who happens to be an ardent Underground Bunker reader. Our new friend gave us a special tour, and we got to stand in some locations where most public don’t go — like slam up against Big Ben. But also in the more touristy sections, like in Westminster Hall, where you can see this plaque in the floor…

 
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Or as in this hallway connecting the House of Commons with the House of Lords…

 
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But we felt special when we got to enjoy the terrace where MPs take a break from legislating…

 
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…and especially when we were ushered into the pub hidden in the place, where government workers can play billiards or throw darts…

 
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…and where John Sweeney, who was also along, ordered us a pint.

 
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And once again, we got another unusual angle on Big Ben, this time from the parking lot inside the place…

 
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…where a special spot is reserved.

 
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But here’s the important thing about our excursion. Over a pint of ale, our friend said to us, what is it that we in government can do about Scientology?

He was genuinely asking for advice. Sweeney and your proprietor had some ideas, and we talked about the new Narconon Scientology is trying to put in, as well as the church’s charitable status and the cute trick it pulls with an Australian address (uncovered by Bryan Seymour). But we have to admit we were at a bit of a loss. We are less familiar with Scientology’s situation here and how local laws affect it. So we’ll put it to you, our UK readers, what should we tell our new friend in government about the things it should be doing about Scientology in England?

Besides giving us an answer here in the comments, please come to Conway Hall tonight in London to tell us in person. Sweeney, your proprietor, and Silvertail Books publisher Humfrey Hunter will be discussing Scientology beginning at 19:30, and we’d love to see you. We plan on pints being involved after the show.

 
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Miss Lovely on parade

In Auckland, outside the Ideal Org being renovated…

 
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From a tipster: “Miss Lovely is now a Class VI auditor!”

 
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Bonus photos from our tipsters

Bob Duggan thinks deep thoughts…

 

 
To our friends in South Africa: A tipster tells us it looks like “Kingdom Management” may be another new Scientology front that tries to recruit youngsters through fashion and photography…

 
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Tonight in Las Vegas! Scientology is planning to use the National Night Out campaign to promote its front groups. Tell ’em we said hi!

 
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BOOK NOTES
3D-Unbreakable

We didn’t get a chance to include photos in our book, so we’ve posted them at a dedicated page. Reader Sookie put together a complete index and we’re hosting it here on the website. Copies of the paperback version of ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ are on sale at Amazon. The Kindle edition is also available, and shipping instantly.

Tony Ortega’s upcoming appearances (and check out the interactive map to our ongoing tour)…

 
August 4: London, Conway Hall, 19:30, (with John Sweeney)

August 24: Boston, Boston Skeptics in the Pub, 7 pm (with Gregg Housh)

Sept 15: Barrett the Honors College, Arizona State University, ASU in Downtown Phoenix campus

Sept 23: Cleveland, Parma Heights Library, 7pm sponsored by Center for Inquiry – Northeast Ohio

Sept 24: Minneapolis

Sept 27: Portland

Sept 28: Seattle, Razzi’s Pizzeria, 7 pm, with Seattle Skeptics and Seattle Atheists

Sept 29: Vancouver, BC, Seven Dining Lounge, 7 pm

Oct 23: Sydney, Giant Dwarf Theatre (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 26: Melbourne

Oct 28: Adelaide (with Sen. Nick Xenophon)

Oct 30: Perth

Past dates: Santa Barbara (5/16), Hollywood (5/17), Orange County (5/17), San Diego (5/20), San Francisco (5/22), New York (6/11), Chicago (6/20), Toronto (6/22), Clearwater (6/28), Washington DC (7/12), Hartford (7/14), Denver (7/17), Dallas (7/20), Houston (7/22), San Antonio (7/24), Austin (7/25), Paris (7/29)

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 4, 2015 at 07:00

E-mail your tips and story ideas to tonyo94@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. Here at the Bunker we try to have a post up every morning at 7 AM Eastern (Noon GMT), and on some days we post an afternoon story at around 2 PM. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of LA attorney and former church member Vance Woodward

UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists

GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice

SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer
The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill
The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield

 

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